Japanese street food at the CNE 2016

The ramen burger, which replaces hamburger buns with fried ramen noodles, is one of the newest food crazes to join the Canadian National Exhibition’s line-up of crazy food fare. Photo credit: Kelly Fleck.

TORONTO — Nothing symbolizes the end of the summer in Toronto quite like the Canadian National Exhibition. When the CNE comes around, so does it’s crazy concoction of trendy food experiments. From the Krispy Kreme burger, to deep fried Mars Bars, there is always a new, deep-fried or artery-clogging food craze that seems like it won’t work, yet just does.

This year, the CNE welcomed Yatai Japanese Street Food to its food building, a concoction of Japanese-inspired midway grub. Yatai Japanese Street Food brought it’s menu of “J-pop chicken”, “Godzilla fries”, “durty fries”, gyoza and most bizarre, the ramen burger. While the food items are not at all authentically Japanese, they each take a Japanese spin on typically Western fair food.

Japanese Street Food is an offshoot of Toronto restaurant Kanpai, which serves Hakka Taiwanese food with inspirations from Japanese and Mainland Chinese cuisine. “Kanpai” translates from Japanese to “bottoms up” a phrase often said before taking a drink. Kanpai serves fun and experimental fusion food, in a modern, old-school hip-hop-loving way. Menu items include: “rice rice baby”, “edamame said knock you out” and “Wu Tang beef”.

Kanpai, which was looking to expand, decided to try opening a stand at the CNE, Kanpai’s Trevor Liu tells Now Magazine. The long line of hungry and curious customers can certainly attest to its success.

Try out the ramen burger and see what you think. The CNE continues through Labour Day weekend to Sept. 5. In the meantime, resist licking the screen as you take a look through the slideshow of mouth-watering Japanese-inspired grub at the CNE:

Yatai Japanese Street Food

An offshoot of Kanpai Snack Bar, is a Toronto based Hakka Taiwanese restaurant that serves Taiwanese food with a Japanese and Mainland Chinese flare. Photo credit: Kelly Fleck

Ramen burger

Yatai Japanese Street Food's biggest - and most bizarre - attraction was the ramen burger.

Seems like it shouldn't work - but it just does

The ramen burger replaces hamburger buns with ramen noodles fried with sesame oil. The burger fully-loaded with a five-ounze patty, lettuce, American cheddar, pickled cabbage and topped with teriyaki mayo. It seems like it shouldn't - but it just does, and it does it well. The bun is crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside, with a juicy burger and crispy veggies, a heavenly combination. Ramen burger: .62

Godzilla fries

Fresh fries, seasoned with Japanese spices and topped with battered and fried chicken (another item on the menu called 'J-pop chicken') chopped green onions, pickled cabbage and teriyaki mayo drizzled on top. Each mouthful is loaded with flavour. "Godzilla fries": .62

Durty fries

An vegetarian alternative to the "Godzilla fries" are the "durty fries" which subtract the fried chicken from the mix. "Durty fries": .19

J-pop chicken

"J-pop chicken" is Japanese fried chicken, or kaarage, is hand-battered and fried on the spot, will sing its way into your heart. J-pop chicken: .85

Gyoza

You can never go wrong with the Japanese favourite. This gyoza is stuffed with chicken, deep-fried and topped with chopped green onions. Gyoza: .29

Yatai Japanese Street Food, a definite hit!

All in all, Yatai Japanese Street Food is a real hit. While not at all authentic, a delicious spin on fair food. It is a food experiment you definitely don't want to miss while at the CNE this summer.